carolina. and we could have chosen to go down a path of continued tax increases and fund the state's addiction to spending but we didn't. we held the line against any new taxes and held the spending to a level below fiscal year 2008, six years ago. we could have let state government grow even while the private sector shrank but we didn't. today, there are 6,000 fewer state employees than when i took office four years ago. but, there are more than 155,000 new private sector employees. we've improved our business climate. and today by every measure, business confidence in new jersey is up. in fact, one national magazine ranked new jersey among the top five states with the most improved business climates in america. it's no accident how we got to this place today no accident at all. we chose, we chose the way. in this new year and the next four years, we need to build on this momentum by creating a new attitude. we need to create an attitude of choice. attitude of choice is not about choosing ever